Viagra Melanoma Staging

According to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, men who take the popular erectile dysfunction (ED) drug Viagra may face an 84% increased risk of developing melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. The study included a cohort of nearly 26,000 male test subjects, and suggested that the drug’s active ingredient may lower levels of a cancer-fighting protein known as PDE5A, which could potentially increase the invasiveness of cancerous cells. This article discusses the five stages of melanoma skin cancer.

Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one was diagnosed with skin cancer after taking Viagra, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer of Viagra and we can help.

What are the Stages of Melanoma?

The stage of a melanoma refers to how deep the cancer has grown into the skin, and whether it has migrated to other parts of the body. The tests used to diagnose skin cancer can provide valuable information about the stage of the disease. It is important to know how deeply the melanoma has grown into the skin so doctors can decide on the course of treatment required, the likely risk of cancer returning after treatment, and whether the patient needs additional tests to determine if the melanoma has spread into nearby lymph nodes.

Doctors use a numbered system to describe the stages of melanoma skin cancer:

Stage 0 (In Situ Melanoma) – Cancerous cells only found in the top layer of skin cells, and have not yet spread into the deeper layers.

Stage 1A – Melanoma is Stage 1B – The melanoma is Stage 2A – Melanoma is ulcerated and 1 to 2 mm thick, or between 2 and 4mm and not ulcerated. The cancer is still only confined to the skin.

Stage 2B – Melanoma is ulcerated and 2 to 4mm thick, or thicker than 4mm and not ulcerated.

Stage 2C – Ulcerated melanoma thicker than 4mm.

Stage 3A – Cancer has spread to lymph nodes near the tumor. However, the nodes are not enlarged and the cells are only visible under a microscope. The melanoma is not ulcerated and has not migrated to other areas.

Stage 3B – Melanoma is ulcerated and has spread to lymph nodes, but the nodes are not enlarged and the cells can only be seen under a microscope; or, the melanoma is not ulcerated and it has migrated to between 1 and 3 lymph nodes and the nodes are enlarged; or, the melanoma is not ulcerated, but it has spread to small areas of skin or lymphatic channels.

Stage 3C – Cancerous cells in the lymph nodes and/or in the lymph channels close to the main melanoma. The melanoma may or may not be ulcerated, and has migrated to lymph nodes that have joined together.

Stage 4 – Cancer has spread to other parts the body, away from the primary site and nearby lymph nodes. Melanoma typically spreads to the lung, liver or brain, or to distant lymph nodes or areas of the skin.

Do I Have a Viagra Melanoma Lawsuit?

The Pharmaceutical Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Viagra Lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new skin cancer cases in all 50 states.

Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you got melanoma from Viagra, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and we can help.